Typewriting-machine



w. P. HELMOND.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED :APR.22. 1 919.

1,360,747. Patented NO 30, 1920.

UNITED STATES em OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. HELMO'ND, OFHARTFORD, CONNECTICUTQASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOODTYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEVI YORK, N; Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING-VMAYCHINE.

" Application filed April 22,

T oaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM F. HEL- MOND, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Hartford in the county of Hartford and State oflonnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTypewriting-Machines, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to typewriting-machines, and more particularly tothe linespacing mechanism thereof, one of its objects being to providean improved mecha nism, of a simple and compact form, suitable for usewith machines of existing types.

The invention is herein illustrated as applied tojan Underwoodtypewriting machine, but is in no manner limited in its-application to amachine of any particular deswn.

l leretofor'e it has been customary to have a line-space detent engagethe ratchet wheel at a point distant from that assumed bytheratchet-wheel-actuating pawl at the end of its driving stroke. As aresult of such arrangement, if a ratchet wheel having a different numberof teeth were substituted for that previously in use, it was foundnecessary to change the detent and other parts, in order to getsatisfactory-results. Assume, for. example, that a 33-toothe d ratchetwas in use, and the detent was positioned at a distance of 13 teeth fromthe tooth of the actuating pawl. I If, then, a 3 l-toothed ratchet ofthe same size were substituted for the 33-toothed ratchet, the detentwould not be properly positioned for use with the substituted ratchet.Obviously, a tooth-space of the 34z-t00th6d wheel is very little shorterthan that of a 33-toothed wheel, but the position of the 13th tooth ofthe 3-l-toothed wheel would differ from that of the 13th tooth of the33-toothed wheel by a distance equal to thirteen times the diiferencebetween the tooth-spaces on the two wheels. The amount of thediscrepancy would vary with the difference in the number of teeth on theratchet-wheels and the distance of the effective end of the detent fromthe tooth of the actuating pawl.

In the present construction, the aforesaid difficulty is avoided, by somounting the line-space detent that it will engage the notch of theratchet-wheel immediately in advance of the notch occupied by the actu-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920. 1919. Serial 110,291,895.

ating pawl at the end of its driving stroke.

Moreover, by virtue of the arrangement of this detent, with reference tothe ratchetwhe el, and the'balanced sprin used to press the detentagainst the ratchet-wheel, the pressure on the pivot or fulcrum of thedetent is reduced, and the movement of the detent will depend moredirectly on the elasticity Qfthespring.

Provision is also made of an overthrowpawl or stop, mounted on a fixedpivot,and

it will be engaged thereby and moved into engagement with theratchet-wheel at the end of the driving stroke of the actuating pawl. Asa consequence of the proximity of the overthrow-pawl to and itsactuation by the actuating pawl, the same overthrowpawl is adapted foruse with ratchet-wheels having different numbers of teeth.

The overthrow-stop or-pawl' may be normally held in ineffective positionby a spring, connected thereto at one end, which also serves to returnthe actuating slide to normal position. To th'isend, the spring may beattached at its other end to a plate adjustably secured on the slide.

The plate, adjustably secur'edon the slide, is also provided with acushion or buffer, preferably of leather, adapted to engage a stop atthe endof the return movement of the slide. This construction avoidsnoise upon stoppage of the slide in its return movement, and, by virtueof the adjusting means provided, the home or normal position of theslide may be fixed as desired.

It has also been-found desirable to provi de means for limiting themovement of the manually-operable lever for actuating the slide. Forthis purpose, provision may be made on each side of'themanually-operable lever of a device comprising a cylindrical memberseated in a corresponding bearing in a bar underlying the lever, atoothed wheel coaxial with, and fixedly secured to, said cylindricalportion, a second cylindrical member eccentrically fixed on said toothedwheel, and a collar of resilient material, preferably of rubber,embracing the eccentrically-mounted cylindrical member.- The aforesaiddevice may be turned to different positions, and there held againstrotation by means of a pin seated in the supporting bar, and engagingbetweensuccessive teeth of the adjustable stops in'position, thecover-plate toothed wheel. The adjusting devices may also serve asspacers between the supportlng f barv and a cover or trim-plateoverlying the manually-operable lever.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view, with parts broken away, ofthe platenframe of an Underwood machine, withmy invention appliedthereto.

Fig." 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig-1, showing the mechanism set for a 3-tooth movement of the platen.

i is a view, similar to Fig. 2, but-with theparts in differentpositions, showing the actuating pawl near the end of its stroke and rshowing the position of the parts at the end of the driving stroke ofthe actuating pawl. @Fig. (iis a front view, partly in section, oftheline-space lever and the. adjustable stops.

Fig. 7 is a view, showing, in separatedrelation, the elements of one ofthe adjusting devices. I 1 7 Fig. 8 is a plan view, showing one of thebeing removed- I K ln'order to effect a line-space movement of awork-sheet in use, finger-piece I, mounted on a lever 2, pivoted on theplaten frame 3,

. is moved to the right, and the corresponding movement of lever 2 istransmitted bymeans of an arm ehforming a part thereof, to a slide 5mounted in the platen frame. Pivoted at 6 on slide 5 is an actuatingpawl 7 having a tooth 8 adapted to engage teeth 9 of a ratchet-wheel 10mounted on a shaft 11 having suitable bearings insaid platen frame 3,and carrying a rotatable platen 12, which serves to support thework-sheet for engagement by the types. 1 i

' The extent of movement of the ratchetwheel 10 as a result ofengagement of tooth 8 with the ratchet-teeth 9, is determined by meansof a trip or shelf 13 on which the actuating pawl 7 rests. Said shelf 13is carried by the usual slide 14 having a slotted portion embracing apin 15, and said slide 14 provided with the usual recesses 16 adapted tobe engaged by a suitably shaped projection 17 carried by a resilientdetent member 18. At its forward end slide 14 may be pivoted to a lever19 by which the position of shelf 13. may be adjusted.

For the purpose of holding said ratchet wheel 10 in proper line-spaceposition, when not under the control of the actuating pawl 7,provisionis made of a detent lever 20 having a yoke at its forward endinwhich is mounted a roll 21 adapted to engage in the notches betweensuccessive teeth of the ratchet-wheel l0. Said detent lever is mountedon said pin 15, and is spring-pressed to hold roll 21 in engagement withthe ratchet-wheel by means of a spring 22 coiled around said pin 15 andhaving an upper arm engaging a stop 23 on the platen-frame, and a lowerarm hooked over said detent lever 20.

This arrangement of'the spring 22 obviates unnecessary pressure orfriction on pin 15,

and serves tomake the movement of the der tent depend more directly onthe elasticity of the spring than with the springs pretangential to saidratchet-wheel 10.

Much trouble has been experienced in the past with overthrow of. theratchet-wheel as a result of quick movements of the lines )ace lever. Touard' a ainst suchaction provision is made in the present constructionof an overthrow-pawl or stop 24: pivotally mounted on the platen-frameby meansof a screw 25. Said overthrow-pawl is provided with an arm 26out of alinement. with the'main portion of saidoawl, and to this arm isattached a spring 2 7, by means of which the overthrow-pawl is 'normallyheld in inefiective position- At'the other end of said spring 27 it isconnected to an ear 28 projecting from a plate 29 ad-- ed to engage'withstop23 on the platen:

frame. noise is avoided by the use of saidcushion, and that as a resultof the adjustable mounting of plate 29 on slide 5, the forward normalposition of said slide may be determined.

Overthrow-pawl 24; is also provided with an offset lug or ear 34:,normally lying in a recess 35 in the lower edge of actuating pawl '7. Atone endof said recess 35 is a shoulder 36, which, upon driving movementof the actuating pawl 7, will engage lug 34 when the actuating pawlapproaches the forward end of its driving movement and moveoverthrow-pawl 24 into the position shown in Fig. 5. adapted foruse'with ratchet-wheels ofdif ferent numbers of teeth due to thelocation of the overthrow-pawlv in proximity to the This structure isalso It will be seen that unnecessary a toothed wheeled) fixedly securedto portion.

38 and lying on the upper surface of bar 39, said parts 38 and 40 beingcoaxial, and a cylindrical member 41 fixed 'in eccentric position onwheel 40. 'Idounted on cylindrical members 41 are collars 42 ofresilient material, preferably rubber, with which said lever 2' engages.MembersBS, 40 and 41 may be formed integrally, or separately and securedtogether in any suitable manner. Members 40 and 41 may also serve asspacers for thecover or trim-plate l3. In

order to securethe parts in assembled posi tion, the adjusting devicesare provided with threaded openings l4 coaxial with the toothed'wheels40,- and headed screws 45 and d6 engaging insaid openings 44. In-

order to adjust devices 87,=screws 45 and 46 are removed and devices3Tturned to the desired position where they will be held againstrotation-by means of pins 47 set in sockets in bar 89; and projectingbetween adjacent teeth of wheels 40'; The function of'collars 42'istoavoid unnecessary noise in operation.

Variations may scope of' the'invention, and portions of the improvementsmaybe used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim i 1'. In a typei vritcr, incombination, a platen-carriage. a platen rotatably mounted therein, aratchet-wheel connected to said platen, an actuating pawl to engage saidratchet-wheel and thereby line-space said platen, an adjustablecontrolling element,

movably mountedon said carriage, to determine the effective length ofstroke'of said actuating pawl, a detent. to engage said ratchet-wheeland thereby hold said platen in any line-space p osition,'said detenthaving its engaging element so positioned, relatively to said pawl,.aszto enter a tooth.- spaceadjacent that occupied by saidpawl atthe endof a linespacing-stroke; a balancedspring to 'yieldingly hold saiddetent in "e flecti'veposition, and a single bearing member projectingfrom said carriage, and servingas a guide for said pawl-controllingelement,-a,retainer for "said spring, and'a pivot for said detent.

2.. Ina typewriting machine, the combination with a platen-carriage anda platen rotatably mounted therein, of a ratchetbe resorted to withinthe wheel operatively connected with said platen, an actuating pawlmovably mounted on said carriage and capable of engaging saidratchet-wheel to linespace said platen, an overthrow-pawl movablymounted on said carriage, and means normally holding said overthrow-pawlin an ineffective position clear of said ratchet-wheel, saidoverthrow-pawl having a part lying in'the path of movement of a part ofsaid actuating pawl and by which itniay be moved into effective positionat the end of the stroke of said actuating pawl, the engaging relationbetween said overthrow-pawl and said ratchet-wheel being such thattheformer constitutes a positive stop for the latter when in itseffective relation.

In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of aratchetwheel connected therewith, aratchet-wheelactuating pawl, a slideon which said pawl is pivoted, an overthrow-stop mounted on a fixedpivot, an arm attached to said stop, but out of alinement therewith, anda spring,

connecting said slide and said arm, urging said slideto forward positionand said stop to ineffective position.

d. In a'typewriting'machi-ne, the combination with a revoluble platen,of a line space ratchet-wheel therefor, a ratchetwheel-actuating pawlhaving a shoulder facing in the direction of its driving move- .ment, anoverthrow stop mounted on a fixed pivot and normally held in ineffectiveposition, a lug on said stop to be engaged by said shoulder to effectmovement of said stop to effective position, said stop also serving tolimit the advance movement of said actuating pawl, and a linespacedetent positioned toengage-the notch of'the ratchet-wheel im; mediately"in advance of the notch occupied by the actuating pawl at the limit ofits driving stroke;

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen anda linespace ratchet-wheelconnected therewith, of means for controllingthe movement of said ratchet-wheel including an actuating member, aratchet-wheel-actuating pawl'pivoted on said actuating member andprovided with a shoulder facing in the direction of the actuatingmovement, and a pivoted overthrow-pawl adapted to be engaged by saidshoulder at the end of the actuating stroke to ,be swung into engagementwith said ratchet-wheel tohold said'ratchet-wheel and actuating pawlagainst advance movement.

6. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a letter-spacing carriage,'a platencarriage shifta'bly'mounted therein, a platen rotatably mountedin said platen-carriage, means for line spacing said platen comprisingan actuating member movably mounted in said platen-carriage, anoperatinglevei for saidactuating member, said lever being movablymounted in said letter-spacing car- 7 spacing means therefor including amanually-operable lever, and adjustable-means for limiting the movementof said lever comprising a member rotatable in a bearing in a fixedsupport, a disk fixed to said member and having openings arranged alongthe circumference of a circle, and a pin set'in v a socket in said fixedsupport and extending .into one oi SZLld. openlngs.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combi- I nation with a platen, ofline-space mechanism therefor including a slide, a manuallyoperablelever for actuating said slide, and means for limiting the movementofsaid lever including a cylindrical member having a bearing in a fixedsupport, a toothedwheel fixedly connected with said cylindricalfmember,a pin held in position in said support to project between adjacent teethof said toothed-wheel and holdthe same against rotation, a secondcylindrical member eccentrically secured to said toothedwheel, and acollar of resilient material mounted on said eccentricallymountedmember. 7 r j i L 9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with aplaten, of line-spacing. means therefor including a line-space lever andad- 'justable means to determine the limits of its .movementiin bothdirections, comprising at mounted in a suitable bearing, a gear-wheelcoaxial rwith said journal portion, a cylindrical portion eccentricwith-respect to said journal portion and connected therewith, andmeansto engage between the teeth of said gear-wheel and prevent rotationthereof, and therebylock said eccentric portion in adjusted position tobe engagedby said '7 leven. V

10. In a typewriting machine,the combination with a revoluble platen, ofan actuating pawl, a slide for actuating the same, a

"manually-operable lever for. actuating said slide, a spring forreturning said slide to normal position, a member comprising an eartowhich said spring is connected at one end, a holder, and a cushion of.resilient material in said holder, means whereby'said member'may besecured in adjusted position on said slide, and a stop to be engaged bysaid cushion on the return movement of said slide.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination vwith a revolubleplaten,of platen actuating means including a slide, a manually-operable leverfor actuating said. slide, means including 'a spring to return saldslide and consequently said lever to normal position, means, including acushion of resilient-mate'rial adjustably mounted on said n slide and afiXed'stop, to determine the forward limit of movement of said slide,and means for limiting the movement of said lever comprisingeccentrically-mounted cylindrical stop members and meansto hold the samein adjusted position.

12. In a typewriting machineflh combina tion, a platen, a carriage ,inwhich said platen is mounted, a ratchet-wheel operative ly connected tosaid platen, a line-spacing pawl therefor, an actuating member ror saidpawl movably mounted in said. carriage, an overthrow-stop movablymounted said stop and actuating member,fiand tendv in said carriage, aspring connecting said stop and actuating member, and tending to moveeach to and hold it in its normal ineffective position, and. a partcontrolled in its movements by saidactnating member to engage said stopat the end of'a line-spacing "stroke of said'pawl to move said stop to.its efi ective position. Y

' each end'of the path of'said lever a member comprising a cylindricaljournal portion 14:. In a typewriting machine, ;in combination, aplaten, a carriage in which said platen is mounted, a ratchet-wheel;operatively connected to said platen, a line-spacing pawl therefor, anactuating member for said pawl movably mounted in said carriage, anoverthrow-stop movably mounted in said carriage, a spring connectingsaid stop and-actuating member, and tending to move each to and hold it;in its normal ineffective position, and a part carried by said pawl toengage said stopiat the end of aline spacing strokethereofirto move saidstop to its effective position, the engaging parts of said pawl and stopbeing so related as to cause each to be held in close engagementwithsaid ratchet-wheel, at the completion ofaline-spacing rotation of saidplaten. I

15. In a typewriting-machine, in combination, a platen-carriage, aplaten-rotatably [mounted therein, and line-spacing .mechanism thereforcomprising 'aratchet-wheel connectedto said platen, an actuating membermovably, mounted in said carriage, a line-space pawl pivoted to saidactuating member and providedwith a shoulder facing in the' directio'n'of actuating movement and an overthrow-pawl, movably mounted insaidcarriage, having a part to be engaged by said shoulder and by which itmay be moved into effective relation at the end of a stroke of saidline-space pawl to prevent further movement of said ratchetwheel andplaten. V

16. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage, a platenrotatably mounted therein, line-spacing means therefor com prising anoperating member movably mounted in said carriage, and an adjustablestop for limiting the movement of said operating member, said stopcomprising a member rotatably mounted in said carriage, a toothedportion concentric with its axis, a stop portion eccentric therewith,and a pin settable an opening in said carriage to engage between any twoteeth of said toothed portion and maintain said movement-limiting stopin an adjusted position. 17. In a typewriter, in combination, aplaten-carriage, a platen rotatably mounted therein, a ratchet-wheelconnected to said platen, an actuating pawl to engage said ratchet-wheeland thereby line-space said platen, an adjustable controlling element,movably mounted on said carriage, to determine the effective length ofstroke of said actuating pawl, a detent to engage said ratchet-wheel andthereby hold said platen in any line-space position, said detent havingits engaging element so positioned, relatively to said pawl, as to entera toothspace adjacent that occupied by said pawl at the end of aline-spacing stroke, a balanced spring to yieldingly hold said detent ineffective position, and a single bearingmember projecting from saidcarriage, and serving as a guide for said pawl-controlling element, aretainer for said spring, and a pivot for said detent, said springcomprising a coiled portion surrounding said retainer, and twoend-portions extending outwardly therefrom in the same general directionas said pawl, said end-portions being connected at closely-neighboringpoints with said detent and said carriage, respectively. WILLIAM F.HELMOND. Vitnesses:

J. J. BAsKERvILLn, \VILLIAM P. SMITH.

